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Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy and Blindness During National Diabetes Month

Diabetes is the main precursor to vision loss in men and women between age twenty and seventy-four. Since 2008, over 4 million men and women in North America afflicted with diabetes were tested positive for diabetes related blindness. Of this group, 70,000 had advanced diabetic retinopathy, which can result in a serious vision loss.

Exactly, should everyone be examined for diabetic retinopathy?

To start, adults living with diabetes are at risk. The best method to learn if you have diabetic retinopathy is to have your eye doctor test your vision yearly. The longer the affliction goes unmonitored, the greater the risk of diabetes related vision loss. Speedy treatment is vital in terms of halting further deterioration.

Pregnant women that are found to have pregnancy-related diabetes have a higher possibility of developing diabetic retinopathy. It is crucial to have a comprehensive dilated eye examination after diagnosis as well.

You may wonder why all the concern? Wouldn't you notice if you were losing your sight?

Well the answer shockingly is no. There are different types of diabetic retinopathy, and only those which are in the acute phases are noticeable. Proliferative diabetes might have no signs. Macular edema is another diabetes related disease which results in serious blindness. Both conditions can manifest without obvious signs. This is why early discovery is crucial to saving yourself from permanent damage.

A comprehensive test will search for evidence of diabetic retinopathy. There are various phases to this exam which will reveal the standard indicators, including damaged nerve tissue, swelling of the retina, and leaky blood vessels. What is entailed in a comprehensive eye test?

Firstly, you will get a visual acuity exam by means of an eye chart which is used to measure how accurately you can see at varying distances. This is similar to the visual acuity tests given by optometrists, if you need glasses.

During a dilated eye exam, the optometrist places drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils. Though not a particularly beloved test by most patients, it can prevent deterioration in your sight in subsequent years. This method makes it feasible to check more of the inside of your eyes to check for unique signs that indicate the likelihood of diabetic retinopathy. The short discomfort will probably save your ability to see.

When it comes to your sight, even a little laziness might cause serious damage. If you have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is essential to book an eye test with an optometrist without further delay.

Serving the wider area of Centreville, VA including Chantilly and surrounding townships. If you aren’t sure how to get to us, click on the Google Maps and Directions. Make your eye care a priority by scheduling an appointment today. When we don’t see clearly, all areas of our life are affected,...